IR3029 The Logic of Irregular Warfare

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Mon 11am

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof S Scheipers

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Irregular warfare, insurgency and counter-insurgency are currently hotly debated topics in International Relations. Academic accounts of the ‘hybrid warfare’ and ‘asymmetric’ conflict abound, suggesting that irregular warfare is a new phenomenon. Against this trend, this module takes a historical perspective. It traces the emergence of the notion of the irregular fighter back to the eighteenth century and shows how irregular warfare has played a central role even in the framework of major wars such as the Second World War. The historical trajectory is complemented by conceptual sessions on topics such as legal and moral issues relating to irregular fighters, irregular warfare and the theory state formation and theories of irregular warfare and counter-insurgency.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours

46

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

254

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Have an advanced understanding of the history of irregular warfare
  • Have a nuanced overview of the legal, moral and theoretical issues relating to irregular fighters.
  • Be able to assess critically social science research on this topic.
  • Develop their written and oral skills through essays, examinations, and presentations in the tutorial program.
  • Convey their arguments in different formats, including audio files/podcasts
  • Work in a small team to produce outputs